Va Claim Ptsd And Sleep Apnea

If a veteran has both of these conditions they may be entitled to VA disability benefits.

Va claim ptsd and sleep apnea. The most common VA rating for Sleep Apnea is 50 which requires the use of a breathing assistance device such as Continuous Positive Airway Pressure CPAP machine. Yes Sleep Apnea is a VA disability and its rated under diagnostic code 6847 Sleep Apnea Syndromes Obstructive Central Mixed. This oxygen deprivation can have a variety of consequences including elevated blood pressure and heart problems. This article covers what veterans need to know about obtaining a VA sleep apnea rating.

This correlation between the two becomes even stronger when the study determined that an increase in the severity of PTSD leads to an increase in the probability of sleep apnea. There are a lot of reasons for this but they include these 2 big ones. Sleep apnea is another common sleep disorder that can form the basis of a successful VA disability claim. Secondary Service Connection for Sleep Apnea In order to receive VA disability benefits veterans conditions must be service-connected.

VA Rating for Sleep Apnea. There is growing evidence that this population also suffers from obstructive sleep apnea OSA a sleep-related breathing disorder more often than the general population Jaoude Vermont Porhomayon El-Solh 2015 although not all studies have found an. The VA will reward sleep apnea secondary service-connection to PTSD now but it is not a sure thing. Research shows that veterans with PTSD have a higher risk of developing sleep apnea for which they can file a VA claim of secondary service connection.

In 2012 the last year that I have statistics over 114103 Veterans were granted VA Compensation for their sleep apnea. Studies by the VA San Diego Healthcare System and the National Center for PTSD show that over 69 of veterans with PTSD are at high risk for sleep apnea and the risk of sleep apnea increases with PTSD symptom severity. Are often not the only sleep disorders that individuals with PTSD. Sleep apnea causes the muscles in the throat to close making it difficult for a person to breathe while sleeping.

There is an alarming correlation between individuals with PTSD and sleep apnea. PTSD and sleep apnea have similar stressors in regards to sleep Many factors that aggravate PTSD have been shown to aggravate sleep apnea as well such as sleep deprivation chronic stress and hyperarousal. PTSD does NOT cause Sleep Apnea however PTSD and side effects of medications taken to manage PTSD symptoms can aggravate obesity weight gain leading to the development of Obstructive Sleep Apnea OSA in Veterans hence Sleep Apnea Secondary to PTSD can be granted. For example sleep deprivation insomnia hyperarousal and daytime sleepiness all affect both PTSD and sleep apnea.

Well cover the successful elements of a VA sleep apnea claim explain the ratings available for sleep apnea the link to other conditions Individual Unemployability and the most frequently asked questions about sleep apnea ratings. A medical diagnosis of sleep apnea confirmed by a sleep study in VA medical records or private records sleep study in past 12 months Evidence of a service-connected primary disability such as PTSD depression anxiety sinusitis rhinitis weight gain AND. The recommended first-line treatment approach in the VADoD Clinical Practice Guideline CPG for PTSD is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia CBT-I when available 21 which is agreeable to the American College of Physicians first-line recommended treatment approach for sleep problems 22 and the VADoD Clinical Practice Guideline CPG for Chronic Insomnia Disorder and Obstructive Sleep Apnea recommendation for treating chronic insomnia 23.